Purdue College of Education online master’s degrees ranked #13 in U.S.
U.S. News & World Report ranked the College of Education’s portfolio of online master’s in education programs at No. 13 nationally in 2026.
“We’re #13 – our highest ranking ever on the list of Best Online Master of Education programs in the U.S.” said Wayne E. Wright, the College of Education’s associate dean for research, graduate programs, and faculty development. “And we’re in the top 4% of the 323 universities surveyed.”
Purdue’s online graduate programs in education are the top in the state (tied for No. 1 with Indiana University). These programs are also ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 6 among the American Association of Universities (tied with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Michigan State University).
“We’re in the Top 10 for Veterans, for Learning Design and Technology programs, and for Curriculum and Instruction programs,” Wright said. “And we’re also in the Top 20 for Educational Administration programs.”
“Our recent online program rankings reflect our commitment to ‘faculty-developed, faculty-delivered’ online learning across a wide-range of important education-related areas,” Phillip J. VanFossen, interim dean of the College. “It’s a validation of our long-standing position among the leaders at Purdue in the university’s online space.”
“Our continuing high rankings among the very best of online graduate education programs really highlights the fact that our faculty are deeply committed to and experts in providing meaningful learning experiences for our students, whether they are online or face-to-face,” said Wright. “We are fortunate to have fantastic support staff for our online programs with expertise in learning design and online instruction. And we are blessed with outstanding students in our online courses who are highly engaged and fully committed.”
About Purdue University Online
Known for its emphasis on practical application, Purdue University Online is working to deliver at scale high-quality online programs serving a variety of students, working professionals and corporate partners. Purdue’s online offerings range from doctorates to skills-based digital badges that address high-need, high-demand areas and are accessible, affordable and demonstrably beneficial.
About the Purdue University College of Education
For John Purdue, education was the flame that lit the world. Purdue’s College of Education shares our founder’s passion, preparing teachers who know their subject matter, understand the myriad ways students learn, and have the skill to help them succeed. The College offers a variety of rigorous online master’s degrees to help students stand out in the working world.
Source: Wayne E. Wright